By much slothfulness - This is remarkably the case in some countries. Houses are not repaired till they almost fall about the ears of the inhabitants. We have an adage that applies to all such cases: "A stitch in time saves nine." read more
A feast is made for laughter - The object of it is to produce merriment, to banish care and concern of every kind. But who are they who make and frequent such places? Epicures and drunkards generally; such as those of whom Horace speaks: Nos numerus sumus, et fruges consumere nati . Epist. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 27. read more
Curse not the king - Do not permit thyself even to think evil of the king; lest thy tongue at some time give vent to thy thoughts, and so thou be chargeable with treason. For a bird of the air shall carry the voice - Does he refer here to such fowls as the carrier pigeon, which were often used to carry letters under their wings to a great distance, and bring back answers? The Targum turns it curiously: "Do not speak evil of the king in thy conscience, nor in the secret of thy heart, nor... read more
Section 14. The mention of "the master of the tongue" in Ecclesiastes 10:11 leads the author to introduce some maxims concerned with the contrast between the words and acts of the wise, and the worthless prating and useless labors of the fool . read more
The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city . The transition from plural to singular is here made, The work of fools wearieth him that knoweth not, etc . "Fools' work" signifies, perhaps, the vain speculations about Providence which Koheleth constantly condemns; or at any rate, all vain and objectless toil and trouble. Not to know the way to the city is probably a proverbial saying expressive of gross ignorance concerning the most... read more
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child ! "Child" is naar , which term included any age up to manhood. Some interpret the word here, as παῖς in Greek, in the sense of "slave," contrasting it with "the son of nobles" in the following verse. But it can hardly signify more than servitor, attendant; and in Ecclesiastes 10:7 the antithesis to "prince" is ebed, not naar . The child in the present case is a youthful, inexperienced ruler, who does not realize his responsibilities,... read more
Section 15. Koheleth returns to the theme mentioned in Ecclesiastes 10:4-7 . and speaks of folly in one who holds the position of king, and the need of wisdom and prudence in the subjects of an unworthy ruler. read more
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles ! cujus rex nobilis est (Vulgate), υἱὸς ἐλευθέρων , "son of free men". Some would regard "son of nobles" as a periphrasis expressive of character, equivalent to the Latin generosus, as "son of strength," equivalent to "strong man;" "son of wickedness," equivalent to "wicked man;" but the phrase may well be taken literally. Koheleth ( Ecclesiastes 10:7 ) has expressed his disgust at the exaltation of unworthy slaves to... read more
By much slothfulness the building decayeth . The subject is still the state. Under the image of a house which falls into ruin for lack of needful repairs, is signified the decay that surely overtakes a kingdom whose rulers are given up to indolence and debauchery, and neglect to attend to the affairs which require prompt care (comp. Amos 9:11 ). Such were they whom Amos ( Amos 6:6 ) denounced, "That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:17
When thy king is the son of nobles - uiov eleuyerwn, the son of freemen; persons well acquainted with the principles of civil liberty, and who rule according to them - Septuagint. Such a one as comes to the throne in a legitimate way, from an ancient regal family, whose right to the throne is incontestable. It requires such a long time to establish a regal right, that the state is in continual danger from pretenders and usurpers, where the king is not the son of nobles. And thy princes... read more